Getting in fights, texting in class, skipping school — these are the kinds of infractions that could land students in detention, where they’ll be forced to spend time quietly working on homework, projects, or studying for upcoming tests. However, at Morse High School in Maine, misbehaving students have an option. They can choose the typical detention, or they can choose to go on a hike through the green hills near Bath. The outdoor detention is the brainchild of guidance counselor Leslie Trundy, who got the idea from an outdoor education conference. Surprisingly, some parents have actually prevented their kids from attending the hiking detention, believing that it misses the point of punishment. Trundy isn’t making any claims just yet, but says some of her students seem to be getting the point. Nicholas Tanguay, one student who got detention for yelling at his teacher, says that walking has given him a sense of accomplishment and has been a calming influence for him. Trundy believes the program has benefits that traditional detention doesn’t provide and is eager to start the program next year.
